Birkenhead teenager Casey Cunningham reaches live stages of TeenStar

Feb 27 2013 by Staff Reporter, Birkenhead News

A BIRKENHEAD teenager has been given a big thumbs up by judges at the TeenStar auditions.

Along with other impressive acts, 12-year-old Casey Cunningham made it through to the regional finals and will now be performing at the live stages of TeenStar.

TeenStar is a national talent competition which searches for the UK’s best teen and pre-teen singers, singer/songwriters, rappers and vocalists of all genres who perform either covers or original material.

TeenStar, is the brainchild ofFuture Music who already produce the Open Mic UK competition.

Casey, a pupil at Wirral Grammar School for Girls, is now in the running to compete for a place in the national final which will be held at the O2 arena in London.

Chris Grayston, events co-ordinator for TeenStar, said: “We are looking to find an act that has something unique to offer, that can go all the way, with both the ability to deliver a strong live performance but also potential to become a professional recording artist. There is so much talent out there I’m sure we can find that star again.”

The competition is divided into age categories: ‘Late Teens’ (16-19), ‘Mid Teens’ (13-15) and a special category searching for the stars of tomorrow; the Pre-Teens.

The latter stages of the competition will also provide acts with the opportunity to impress many guests from record labels, agencies and the entertainment industry as well as judges from BBC Introducing, national radio and regional press with judges being more prestigious in the later rounds.

Past judges for Open Mic UK include Radio 1 DJs Ras Kwame and Annie Nightingale MBE, KISS FM’s Charlie Hedges and Ivor Novello award winner Mark Hill who was one half of Artful Dodger.

Former winner of Open Mic UK Hatty Keane has been signed to BGM. Hatty performed live sets alongside Ed Sheeran, Tinchy Stryder and Pitbull and is currently working on new material.

Previous winners also include Birdy who is signed to Warner and in the last 12 months has hits all over Europe and is set to conquer the US with a collaboration with Mumford & Sons.

Other talent, such as X Factor finalist Jahmene Douglas and Lucy Spraggan, have also come through Future Music competitions.